Improvement in mowing-machines and harvesters



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

J. H; MANNY, OF VVADDAMS GROVE, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN MOWING-NIACHINES AND HARVESTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 8,385, dated September Q3, 1851.

ing had to the accompanying drawings, which form apart of this specification, andin which- Figure l represents a view in perspective of my machine complete, and Fig. 2 is a plan of a portion of the sickle-blade, showing the direction in-which the indentations are cut.

My invention consists, first, in constructing the frame-work of the machine in such manner that neither of its front corners is liable to sag below the level of the other.

The second part of my invention, which is not necessarilyconnected with the first, consists in an arrangement of devices for connecting the tongue to which the team is hitched with the frame-work of the machine, so that the front rail of the latter to which the cutter-bar is secured can readily be raised or depressed to cut closer to or farther from the ground. This arrangement also allows the cutter-bar to rise in passing over au accidental protuberance on the surface of the ground.

The third part of my invention consists in a device for turning the swath away from the standing grass when the machine is used asa mower.

The machine, as represented in the accompanying drawings, consists mainly ot' two two-wheeled carriages, to the one of which the team is hitched, while the other carries the various devices by means of which the cutting of the grain or grass is effected. The latter consists ot' a triangular frame, AB C, which is composed of rails suitably framed together and mounted upon an axle, D, towhichv the running wheels E E' are secured. The side rails A A', nearer that side of the machine to which the draft is applied, are at right angles to the axle D. The front rail, O, of the frame is parallel with the axle, and the side rail B, farther from the point ot' draft, passes diagonally over the axle of the wheels, andv connects the hinder extremities of the rstmentioned side rails A A', with the extremity of the front rail, O, farther therefrom. It will now be perceived that the weight of the outer extremity of the front rail is borne bythe front extremity of the inclined side rail B, which, being secured at its hinder extremity to the corresponding extremities of the opposite side rails AA', cannot move without moving them equally in a corresponding manner. Hence the extremity of the front rail farther from the point of draft cannot rise or fall without moving the other extremity in a corresponding manner, and the frame thus constructed is not liable to sag out of shape, and can be made much lighter than a rectangular frame, and still combine the requisite strength with much greater stiffness. l

The front rail, C, of-the frame sustains the cutting apparatus. This consists of a series of stationary fingers, a a, which project forward and, as the machine is advanced, enter the standing grain, and of a reciprocating sickle-blade, b. The latter is serrated, as represented in the drawings, and its edges are sickled, as shown at Fig. 2. It is connected at one extremity by means of a rod, c, with the piu or wrist of a crank, d, whichis secured to the front extremity of a shaft, e. This shaft extends backward toward the axle D, and is fitted at its hinder extremity with a beveled pinion whose teeth engage with those of a corresponding beveled wheel, F, secured to one of the running wheels E ot' the frame, so that the latter becomes the driving-wheel of the machine, and in running over the ground causes the crank-shaft to revolve, and imparts a reciprocating movement to the sickle-blade.

To facilitate the action of the cutting apparatus, a reel, G, is mounted above it. The shaft of this reel turns upon bearings in the frame of the machine. Itis titted with a beltpulley, H, which is encircled by a belt leading from a corresponding pulley, I, on the axle D, so that as the latter turns with the wheel E the reel is caused to revolve. The grain cut by the machine falls upon a removable platform, K, behind the cutting apparatus, and is raked off at the side of the machine by a raker who stands upon the frame behind the platform. In order to leave the side of the platform at which the grain is discharged perfectly free for the action ofthe raker, the belt j', by which motion is conveyed to the reel` shaft, is deiected from its direct course to the driving-pulley I by passing it under guidepulleys which are pivoted to the frame of the machine beneath the raking-platform.

The carriage to which the team is hitched consists of a frame, L, which is mounted at its forward extremity upon the axle-tree Not' two running wheels, M M, and is connected therewith by a king-bolt, which permits the axletree to turn freely beneath the frame. The hinder extremity of the frame is connected by a horizontal bolt, g, with the front rail of the hinder carriage, so that this carriage can tip upon the axle D of its running wheels wit-hout affecting the front axle-tree, N, to which the tongue O is secured.'- In order to control this tipping ot' the hinder carriage, and consequently to regulate the distance of its front rail and the cutting apparatus thereto attached from the ground, a strong bar or arm, P, is projected from the frame of the hinder carriage over the frame ofthe front one, and is extended past a standard, Q, erected upon the front extremity'ot' the forward carriage. 'lhe bar P is placed in such a position with respect to the front standard, Q, that it bears against one of its sides, with which it is in contact, by a square 'staple surrounding the standard and secured to the bar. The standard is perforated with a-series of holes,',to which a pin,l1.,is tted,which can be shifted from one hole to another. The projecting bar l is rigidly connected with the front part ot' the hinder carriageframe, and hence when it is raised this portion of the carriage is correspondingly raised, and the cutting apparatus is lifted from the ground. It is then prevented from sinking by passing the pin /L in the hole immediately beneath the bar P, which is thus prevented from returning to its lowest position. This pin, although it prevents the bar P, and consequently the front ot the hinder carriage, from sinking, does not prevent it from rising` when it strikes any accidental protuberance on the ground, and hence, while this arrangement aords a convenient means of regulating` the distance of the cutting apparatus from the ground, it diminishes the risk of the breakage which would result from contact with an accidental and unnoticed protuberancne on the surface of the ground. l

When this machine is used for cutting grain the driver stands upon the forward part of the front carriage, where be can drive the horses hitchedv to the tongue, and can at the-same time regulate the height ofthe stubble by raising or lowering the bar P, and thus elevate or depress the cutting apparatus. The raker stands upon the frame of the hinder carriage behind the raking-platform K, where he can readily rake oft' the grain falling thereon and discharge it at the side of the machine most distant from the standing grain.

When the machine is used for mowing grass or other substances which do not require to be bound into sheaves,the platform is removed and the grass cut falls directly over the front rail upon the surface of the ground, and is left in the track of the machine. As the cut grass falling` at that side ot the machine nearerthe standing grass would bein the way ot' the team and wheels when making a succeeding cut, and would also be injured by being trampled, I secure an adjustable hinged guard-plate, R, to the innerside of theoblique side railB. When the raking platform K is in use this guard plate is turned up, as represented in Fig. 1; but when the platform is removed this guardplate is depressed, and then turns the cut grass falling al: that end ot' the cutting apparatus away from the standing'grass, thus leaving a clear space for the team to walk in while making a succeeding' cut.

What I claim as myinvention, and desire to` secure by Letters Patent, is v Hanging the cutter-barofa reaping-machine to the side ofa triangular frame in such manner that neither extremity of the cutter shall be liable to sag below the other extremity, as herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JOHN H. NANNY.

Witnesses:

P. H. WATSON, J. S. SMITH. 

